Canadian medical cannabis firm targeted in class-action suit

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Canadian medical marijuana producer OrganiGram, having already replaced its CEO, now is the subject of a proposed class-action lawsuit involving pesticide-contaminated cannabis.

A court must certify the proposed lawsuit before it can proceed.

A Halifax-based law firm alleged in its Friday filing that the lead plaintiff consumed OrganiGram’s MMJ products for almost a year before learning the cannabis could be contaminated with potentially toxic pesticides, the Montreal Gazette reported.

The firm also said in its proposed lawsuit that upwards of 2,000 Canadians may have purchased medical marijuana products containing either myclobutanil or bifenazate, pesticides that are not approved for use on cannabis.

Myclobutanil in particular is controversial throughout the cannabis industry. Popular among many marijuana growers because of its effectiveness in fighting powdery mildew, myclobutanil creates hydrogen cyanide when burned.

OrganiGram voluntarily recalled tainted products in December and January, and Health Canada subsequently implemented random MMJ-testing procedures nationwide.

Despite an investigation, the Moncton, New Brunswick, company said it could not determine how its MMJ became contaminated with pesticides.